A Novice's Guide Through the Jewish Holidays explores the traditions, historical events along with Hebrew blessings in transliteration of the holidays for all people of diverse faiths and learning skills. The book engages and encourages the reader to become comfortable practicing the observances of the holidays. This guide will inspire and enlighten multi-generational and interfaith families to learn together. There are recipes and decorations to enhance the richness and beauty of each holiday. The special gift of this book is to bring a better understanding of the Jewish people's rich heritage. May your thirst for knowledge never be quenched

In this unique collection of daily meditations, theologian and psychologist Rev Dr Simon Gibson brings together spiritual wisdom and psychological insight to create a powerful resource for living life to the full and making every day count!

This book explores historical and cultural aspects of modern and contemporary Bengal through the performance-centred study of a particular repertoire: the songs of the saint-composer Bhaba Pagla (1902-1984), who is particularly revered among Baul and Fakir singers. The author shows how songs, if examined as 'sacred scriptures', represent multi-dimensional texts for the study of South Asian religions. Revealing how previous studies about Bauls mirror the history of folkloristics in Bengal, this book presents sacred songs as a precious symbolic capital for a marginalized community of dislocated and unorthodox Hindus, who consider the practice of singing in itself an integral part of the path towards self-realization.

In Caliphate and Kingship in a Fifteenth-Century Literary History of Muslim Leadership and Pilgrimage Jo Van Steenbergen presents a new study, edition and translation of al-Dahab al-Masbuk fi Dikr man Hagga min al-Hulafa' wa-l-Muluk, a summary history of the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca by al-Maqrizi (766-845 AH/ca. 1365-1442 CE). Traditionally considered as a useful source for the history of the hagg, al-Dahab al-Masbuk is re-interpreted here as a complex literary construction that was endowed with different meanings. Through detailed contextualist, narratological, semiotic and codicological analyses Van Steenbergen demonstrates how these meanings were deeply embedded in early-fifteenth century Egyptian transformations, how they changed substantially over time, and how they included particular claims about authorship and about legitimate and good Muslim rule.

How do you know what God's direction is for your life? How can you find and more clearly understand the wondrous plans "He" has for you? Would you like to uncover the hidden passion that's lying in wait inside of you?

In any economy-good or bad-do you ever fret about bills and money? Do you experience troubling nagging stressful life issues? Have you been skeptical or had a careless attitude about whether dark, evil forces are real or not? Would you like to encounter a fresh and enlightening simplistic perspective concerning this issue and spiritual warfare?

Finally, here is an inspiring, modern-day true story of discovery that will give thought-provoking insight and answers to these and other important questions and problematic dilemmas. Author Jack Kovnas does not tell you how to pray as much as he shows you through his own teaching examples of actual prayer events.

With deep humility, he candidly reveals how sinfully and shamefully he lived the beginning stages of his Christian life-without prayer-but then turned completely around as he uncovered genuine happiness "with" prayer.

Inside this book you will find a declaration by somebody who learned the value of praying and trusting God-who willingly gave up house and possessions, and then watched in amazement as they returned.

This informative prayer-ride journey is a testimony to what God can and will do for any and all of us. As Jack humbly and assuredly attests-even though it is his own true life story, every sincere, caring word on each and every page is not about him-it is about "you" ""Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not upon thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.""
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

Hakol Kol Yaakov: The Joel Roth Jubilee Volume contains articles dedicated to Rabbi Joel Roth, written by colleagues and students. Some are academic articles in the general area of Talmud and Rabbinics, while others are rabbinic responsa that treat an issue of contemporary Jewish law. These articles reflect the unique and integrated voice and vision that Joel Roth has brought to the American Jewish community.

In his academic career, that by now spans six decades, Daniel J. Lasker distinguished himself by the wide range of his scholarly interests. In the field of Jewish theology and philosophy he contributed significantly to the study of Rabbinic as well as Karaite authors. In the field of Jewish polemics his studies explore Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew texts, analyzing them in the context of their Christian and Muslim backgrounds. His contributions refer to a wide variety of authors who lived from the 9th century to the 18th century and beyond, in the Muslim East, in Muslin and Christian parts of the Mediterranean Sea, and in west and east Europe. This Festschrift for Daniel J. Lasker consists of four parts. The first highlights his academic career and scholarly achievements. In the three other parts, colleagues and students of Daniel J. Lasker offer their own findings and insights in topics strongly connected to his studies, namely, intersections of Jewish theology and Biblical exegesis with the Islamic and Christian cultures, as well as Jewish-Muslim and Jewish-Christian relations. Thus, this wide-scoped and rich volume offers significant contributions to a variety of topics in Jewish Studies.

"Cloud by Day, Fire by Night" offers a modern-day parable of one man's choices and the attitudes that can make the difference between success and failure. Sportsman, businessman, entrepreneur, devoted husband, and father, author Dennis Hurst found himself in the depths of despair following a devastating divorce. From the thrills of an early professional soccer career to the life of a high-flying business executive and head of a start-up retail business, he suddenly had to begin his life anew at the age of fifty-two. Sitting alone on the only piece of furniture in an apartment hurriedly rented with his last two thousand dollars, he pondered his fate.

Staring vacantly out the curtainless window as the drizzle outside turned into a steady downpour, he began to take stock of his life. As one who had experienced the exhilaration and rewards of professional sports, the perks and privileges of being a business executive, along with the prestige and position that such a lifestyle allows, he found his new, lowly station in life both unexpected and depressing. Or was it? To the world's way of thinking, it seemed to be; it was one step away from living out on the street, under a bridge, fighting for survival-a total unmitigated disaster.

Fortunately for Hurst, God had him exactly where he needed him and set him off on his personal journey of rediscovery.